Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade Cover the February Issue of ESSENCE

“We’re not rushing it. Both of us have been married before, and we understand that if we choose to marry again, we want it to be right. We both took failing at marriage hard. The next time it’s gotta be forever…” -- Dwyane Wade

Spend any amount of time with actress Gabrielle Union and Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade and it quickly becomes clear that their relationship is nothing like the complicated ties you see on reality TV. The super-hot couple are both on the top of their game both professionally and physically -- with Union remaining in high demand over the course of her 16-year career and Wade widely regarded as one of the best players in the NBA. But their love has come at a steep price. When the couple’s courtship started, the blogs lit up with rumors and accusations. But love rises above the chatter. That’s how you know it’s real.

Read their story in ESSENCE’s February issue, on newsstands January 12th.